Pistols for two, coffee for one

Posted by Joe December 25, 2008 at 17:19In reply to Pistols for two, coffee for one posted by John G on December 05, 2008 at 09:02:

"Pistols for two, coffee for one". Please provide the origin of this phrase.

Very common by the 1830's US and UK,
dates from 1820's, sometimes said as
pistols for two, and breakfast for one.
Even Charles Dickens used it.